The chiefs and people of Alavanyo and Nkonya, in the Volta Region, on Sunday signed a peace accord to bring to an end their 92-year-old bloody land dispute.
The two sides flocked to Kpando-Gabi, in the region, to attend a peace durbar to signify the end of the dispute.
The accord described as “mother of all peace accords,” saw the two sides swap peace flags and take part in “borborbor” dance, to signify their readiness to live in peace and harmony forever.
Mr. Mark Owen Woyongo, Minister of the Interior, who was the guest of honour at the emotional event, said that the conflict had travelled too long, dating back from 1923 with violent clashes, loss of lives and destruction to properties, and “this has denied the two communities of the much needed development”.
He stated that it was gratifying that the feuding parties themselves had finally made a decisive move towards peace, after several efforts by government to solve the problem yielded little result.
Mr Woyongo commended the chiefs and people of Alavanyo and Nkonya for working together with the state institutions, including the National and Regional Peace Councils and the Volta Regional Security Council to achieve such a feat.
“It is very significant to extend government’s appreciation to the Ho Diocese of the Catholic Bishops Conference, the E.P. Church, West Africa Network for Peace Building, UNDP, CLEDS-B Consult and all peace actors who have made significant contributions both in the past and present, towards the facilitation of peace between the people of Nkonya and Alavanyo”, Mr. Woyongo said.
The Interior Minister pointed out that the solution to conflict situations is dialogue and never in the barrel of the gun.
The Volta Regional Minister, Madam Adjoa Ntoso, who had been actively involved in the peace process between the two communities, said that by burying their hatchets, the Alavanyo and the Nkonya people had opened their doors to development.
Togbe Tsedze Atakora VII, Paramount Chief of Alavanyo Traditional Area, and Nana Ampem Darko, Ankobeahene of Nkonya Traditional Area, signed the peace accords on behalf of their respective communities.
Togbi Dagadu VII, Paramount Chief of Akpini Traditional Area, said that the strong blood between the Alavanyos and the Nkonyas was cause for love and peace between them and not war.
Source: The Ghanaian Timesďż˝
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